Hair color applicator

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for applying a two-component liquid composition to a surface has a housing having an open end, and a roller ball disposed and rotatably retained in the housing and projecting through the open end. There are two containers disposed at least partially in the housing. Each container has a dispensing nozzle arranged adjacent the roller ball. The nozzles have an open end such that a liquid or pasty substance disposed in each of the containers flows from the containers through the nozzle directly to the roller ball upon application of pressure to the substances in the containers. Rolling roller ball across a surface mixes the two substances on the roller ball with each other. This occurs by virtue of the movement of the roller ball around the surface, which causes the substances to flow around the ball and mix with each other during rolling.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/295,679 filed Feb. 16, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an applicator for applying hair color or other liquid cosmetic to a persons hair or skin. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising two chambers for dispensing two different liquids simultaneously onto a roller ball, which mixes the liquids and applies them to a surface or hair.

2. The Prior Art

Hair coloring is often applied using a flexible bottle with a nozzle, which sends liquid from the bottle directly onto the person's scalp by squeezing the bottle. Alternatively, the hair coloring can be applied by brushing the liquid onto the desired area with a brush or sponge. While both of these methods are effective in placing the liquid onto the surface, it is difficult to meter and direct the liquid in a precise fashion. This is particularly true in coloring facial hair, where the coloring needs to be applied in very precise, specific areas.

Application of liquids such as antiperspirants using a roller ball is well known. In this application, the ball is held in a compartment, and as it rolls along a surface, it picks up liquid from the compartment and deposits it on the surface in a precise and limited manner. With a roller ball application, there is very little chance of dripping or over-application.

Hair coloring often requires the mixing of two separate liquids immediately prior to application: the color, plus a developer. It would be desirable to provide a way to mix these two liquids and apply it to one's hair using a roller ball application, all in one step.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an applicator for hair color that can mix the color and developer and apply the mixed formula in a precise and simple fashion.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for hair color application that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects are accomplished by an apparatus for applying a two-component liquid composition to a surface that comprises a housing having an open end, an inner surface and an outer surface and a roller ball disposed and rotatably retained in the housing and projecting through the open end. There are two containers disposed at least partially in the housing. Each container has a dispensing nozzle arranged adjacent the roller ball. The nozzles have an open end such that a liquid or pasty substance disposed in each of the containers flows from the containers through the nozzle directly to the roller ball upon application of pressure to the substances in the containers. Rolling roller ball across a surface mixes the two substances on the roller ball with each other. This occurs by virtue of the movement of the roller ball around the surface, which causes the substances to flow around the ball and mix with each other during rolling. To aid in the mixing, the roller ball can have a plurality of grooves around its surface. The substances flow out of the nozzles and are directed into the grooves, which further enhances the mixing. The grooves can be arranged in a criss-cross pattern, which also enhances the mixing, as the substances can flow in perpendicular directions and intersect each other.

Pressure can be applied to the substances in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the containers are rigid and each have a plunger mechanism disposed at an end opposite the nozzles. Depressing the plunger presses the substances toward the nozzles. The plungers can be connected so that they are depressed simultaneously, or can be separate so as to be actuatable independently.

In another embodiment, the containers are made of a flexible plastic or metal material, such that squeezing the containers presses the substances through the nozzles. The containers can be encased in a unitary covering to form a single unit, or can be in the form of separate tubes that are connected to the housing for dispensing.

Preferably, the containers are removable from the housing, so that the housing and roller ball can be used to apply different substances, if needed. Alternatively, the entire apparatus can be manufactured as a single unit intended to be disposable after a single use.

While the invention is ideal for application of hair coloring, it could also be used for application of other products as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention using a plunger mechanism;

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the substances being dispensed and mixed on the roller ball;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the applicator 10 according to the invention. Applicator 10 consists of a housing 11 that secures a roller ball 12 via a securing portion 14, which extends just past a circumferential midpoint of roller ball 12, so that roller ball 12 is securely retained inside securing portion 14. Two containers 20, 21 are disposed inside housing 11. Containers 20, 21 contain liquid substances 28, 29, respectively. These substances can be a hair colorant and a developer, or any other types of liquids that should be mixed upon application.

Containers 20, 21 have nozzles 26, 27, respectively, each located at a bottom of containers 20, 21, and which are directed downward and toward each other. substances 28, 29 flowing out of nozzles 26, 27 are directed toward each other so that they contact roller ball 12 in approximately the same region. Containers 20, 21 hold substances 28, 29 in an air-tight manner, so they do not dry out and do not flow through nozzles 26, 27 unless pressure is applied to substances 28, 29. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, this pressure can be applied in the form of plungers 22, 23, which are arranged in containers 20, 21, and which are connected by a common top 24. Pressing down on top 24 causes plungers 22, 23 to press substances 28, 29 through nozzles 26, 27 and onto roller ball 12.

Substances 28, 29 are mixed together by the rolling movement of roller ball 12, as it applies substances 28, 29 to a surface such as a section of hair. To aid in the mixing, grooves 13 are cut into roller ball 12 in a criss-cross manner. Substances 28, 29 exiting containers 20, 21 are directed into grooves 13, and intersect one another as they run along grooves 13. Containers 20, 21 can be configured to be removable and replaceable, so that housing 11 and roller ball 12 can be used to apply other substances as well. Alternatively, the entire assembly can be disposable.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, containers 120, 130 are formed from a flexible material, such as soft plastic or metal and are fit into housing 100 via securing plate 160. A single cover 150 surrounds containers 120, 130 to give a unitary appearance. Alternatively, containers 120, 130 can be separate from one another and independently removable from housing 100.

Squeezing containers 120, 130 causes substances 28, 29 to flow out of nozzles 170, 180 and onto roller ball 12, as described above. Roller ball 12 is held in housing 100 by retaining portion 140, which extends around roller ball 12 sufficiently to retain roller ball 12 inside housing 100. Substances 28, 29 are mixed on roller ball 12 in the same manner as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3.

The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive way to apply hair coloring or other substances in a metered and targeted fashion. The roller ball prevents any dripping of the substances and allows for a neat and precise application to a variety of surfaces. The simple construction means that the entire apparatus can be produced as a disposable package, or can be produced with disposable containers mounted in a re-usable housing with the roller ball.

Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for applying a two-component liquid composition to a surface, comprising: a housing having an open end, an inner surface and an outer surface; a roller ball disposed and rotatably retained in the housing and projecting through the open end; two containers disposed in the housing, each container having a dispensing nozzle arranged adjacent the roller ball; wherein liquid or pasty substances disposed in each of the containers flow from the containers through the nozzle directly to the roller ball upon application of pressure to the substances in the containers, and wherein rolling the roller ball mixes the two substances on the roller ball with each other.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller ball contains a plurality of grooves that are configured to direct the flow of substances from the containers into the grooves.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the grooves are arranged in a criss-cross pattern.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plunger connected to each of the compartments, such that pressing on the plunger pushes the substances out of the nozzles and onto the roller ball.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compartments are formed of a bendable material and wherein pressure is applied to the substances by squeezing the containers.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the containers are encased in a single covering.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the containers are removable from the housing.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the containers contains hair color and the other one of the containers contains developer. 